Comment period begins for Argonaut expansion

By Leigh Ann Maze

The Saratoga Union School District has determined that the planned expansion at Argonaut School, subject to several mitigation measures, will not have a significant effect on the environment.

The SUSD on Jan. 7 released a "notice of intent" to adopt the mitigated negative declaration for Argonaut School. The document describes all possible effects the project could have on the environment and how they will be mitigated.

The purpose of the expansion is to accommodate Argonaut's growing student enrollment, which is expected to increase to 630 students by the 2006-07 school year and to continue to increase in the years that follow.

After a period of public comment on the mitigated negative declaration, the SUSD expects to approve it at the Feb. 22 board meeting, completing the California Environmental Quality Act process for the project. Architects can then submit building plans to the state architect for approval and put the plans to bid in the summer with construction beginning this fall.

The Argonaut project includes the remodeling of all classrooms and the building of a new administrative building, recreational blacktop area, parking spaces and a larger multipurpose room. A daycare center will be relocated, and several new classrooms will replace old portable ones.

SUSD board members approved site plans for the projects Oct. 26, after lengthy public input. The project is funded by Measure D, passed by Saratoga voters in June 1997, to pay for renovations and repairs to Redwood, Saratoga, Argonaut and Foothill schools for seismic upgrades, safety repairs and modernization.

According to the mitigated negative declaration, three of the new buildings could be visually intrusive to nearby residents. So the district plans to put in vegetation buffers and landscaping. All of the new structures will include outside lighting for safety. The district plans to mitigate any glare at night by using minimum wattage lights and shielding light sources.

Up to three eucalyptus trees in the kindergarten play area may be removed. The district will mitigate their removal by adhering to the city of Saratoga ordinance on tree regulations, and it will replace each with a tree of the same species. Increased noise in the immediate area due to construction will be mitigated by limiting construction hours to 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Other mitigations are cited in the declaration, which is available to the public at the Saratoga community library, at the SUSD office and on the web at www.susd.k12.ca.us.

The public has until Feb. 7 to review the mitigated negative declaration. Concerned individuals and public agencies can submit written comments on the document to the SUSD, which will respond to all concerns.

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The SUSD will hold a public meeting on the mitigated negative declaration on Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the SUSD board offices, 20460 Forrest Hills Drive, Saratoga.

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